By Message Staff After spending several tense days sheltered in a compound after violent protests broke out in Haiti last weekend, a Louisiana Baptist mission team has made it safely back to the United States. The team of 35 landed in Miami, Florida, early in the evening on July 10 and caught a connecting flight to New Orleans at 11:15 p.m. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to city of Miami," Louisiana Baptists church planting director James Jenkins told the Baptist Message. "The word relief is just not strong enough to convey my feelings about safely leaving Haiti and returning to America." Jenkins said the team left the missionary compound at 6 a.m. and arrived shortly afterward at the airport, where they spent most of the day until their departure at 4:30 p.m. "Despite the events of the past days, I am convinced that we cannot give up on Haiti," Jenkins said. Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana Director of Missions Stan Statham posted on the association's Facebook page that the team members were in good spirits. "We want to thank everyone for their prayers and ask you to continue to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters in this time of need in Haiti," he wrote. "Our team of 35 … [Read more...]

By Office of Congressman Ralph Abraham WASHINGTON - Congressman Ralph Abraham has voted in favor of a House resolution demanding that the Department of Justice comply with requests from Congress to turn over documents relating to possible abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by DOJ personnel. The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has investigated potential FISA abuses by the DOJ since March 2017. On Oct. 24, the House Committees on the Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform began a joint investigation into decisions made by DOJ in 2016 and 2017 during its investigation of the emails of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During these investigations, DOJ has delayed and failed to fully comply with requests for information and congressional subpoenas. The resolution, H. Res. 970, demands that DOJ fully comply with the requests, including subpoenas, no later than July 6. “It’s past time that the Department of Justice respects the laws of this land and Congress’ Constitutional oversight authority,” said Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church. “This has been going on for far too long, and the American people deserve answers. It’s time for the DOJ to pony up these documents and comply … [Read more...]